Bachmann challenger not eager for Obama’s help

[DonViejo]

"The president's cup is full," Democrat Jim Graves tells Salon as polls show him leading in Bachmann's GOP district

BY ALEX SEITZ-WALD

Democrat Jim Graves was feeling good as he sat down for an interview with Salon in Washington Monday, the same day his campaign released a poll showing him two points ahead of Rep. Michele Bachmann, whom he narrowly lost to in 2012.

This time around, he’ll start with higher-name ID — “I think we started off last time around at 18 percent and now we’re pushing 75 to 80 percent” — and more support from national Democrats, who were initially skeptical about his chances and didn’t get heavily involved until mid-October. “I don’t think they jumped in at all,” Graves quipped of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, before quickly excusing them in a typical Minnesota-nice fashion: “There was lower-hanging fruit, I don’t blame them.”

For the 2014 campaign, President Obama has promised to get more involved in House races, after largely sitting on the sidelines in 2012 and 2010, but Graves may not want the help. “We’re running a pretty independent campaign,” Graves said when asked if he’d like Obama to visit the district. “I think that the president’s cup is full; he’s got to stick with what he’s got to do, and we respect that, and we’re going to have to do what we have to do out in the district.”

It’s not surprising that Graves would want to distance himself from Obama, considering the district gave Mitt Romney 56 percent of the vote compared to just 41 percent for Obama in 2012. It leans strongly Republican, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of Republican +7.

full article
http://www.salon.com/2013/05/21/bachmann_challenger_not_eager_for_obamas_help/

[Drale]

1. So when Michelle loses

is she going to hang out with Sarah for the little bit before she goes to jail?

[DCKit]

7. If not jail, then faux and the Sunday squawk shows.

Granted, she's nuts, but she's not as stupid as Sarah. Nor does she have "The Voice" that makes people wish for the sound of thousands of finger nails on a chalkboard.

[Jamaal510]

2. I'm surprised that this guy

is challenging Bachmann yet again in the very next election. I rarely hear of people challenging the same person again after losing to them before.
Regarding Obama, I think this is a smart call on Graves' part to not call on his services; like he said, he wants to be seen as "independent" in such a RW district, plus there are of course some people who may hate Obama for whatever reason, but may be willing to crossover in other situations; just a few months ago, it was reported that Obama lost about a few percentage points in the election results just because of his race.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

4. It happens more than you think

It was close enough last time that he has to take another chance, but I have a hard time seeing him do better in a non-presidential year.

[Cha]

5. Happens all the time, Jamaal. My old District 24 in NY comes to

mind. A candidate loses and they have two years to store up for the next race if the fire in the belly is there.

[SharonAnn]

3. Her district is very, very red. Bringing Obama in would just bring all the moderates and GOP out to

I'm sure that Obama lost that district by a big margin and his support of her opponent would be no help to him.

Seriously, you have to consider these things.

[Cha]

6. Good.. It's a sure thing Pres Obama will be having plenty

to do.